The ABC 123 Room was launched on Sept. 21 and is a new addition to the Knight Library for caregivers, children and parents of UO to study and tend to their children.
The ABC 123 Room was an idea proposed by Kate Smith, assistant director of access services for UO Libraries, as an intentional space to invite caregivers and children into the atmosphere of the Knight Library.
“It was really important to me to make this library more welcoming and adding intentional spaces and services is just one of the ways we can do that,” Smith said. “I’ve worked here for a really long time and I’ve noticed people won’t come to the library because it didn’t have things that were relevant to what they were doing.”
When Vice Provost and University Librarian Dr. Alicia Salaz came to UO, she began an innovative grant program for library staff to develop ideas that could improve the spaces.
Smith proposed the idea of the ABC 123 Room and was awarded a $5,000 grant and room number 123 in the main section of the library to develop her plan.
“This room is for anybody who wants to have sort of a comfortable room with a little bit of privacy to do any kind of work that they might want to do,” Smith said. “Or if they’re caring for a small child or if they need to nurse or pump, it’s a room that they can book online so they know it’s going to be here when they need it.”
According to John E. Jaqua Law Library Manager and Smith’s partner for the project, Hana Chan, the room is aimed to fulfill UO’s library mission of being a welcoming, transformative place that can provide high service impacts for all of the users.
“The room is a space that can be booked by anyone on campus,” Chan said. “You can be students, staff or faculty in need of someplace that has a dedicated space where you can let your child play or sleep while you are studying. It is pretty utilitarian.”
According to Smith and Chan, they came up with an outline board for things they do and do not want in the room. Their biggest concern was making the room not gendered in any way and inclusive with furniture, toys and more.
“We chose a brand new rocking chair that fits up to 450 pounds as well as a sit-stand desk controlled by a paddle,” Smith said. “We know furniture in spaces on campus is sometimes not as body-inclusive.” 
Additionally, Smith and Chan hand-picked the toys, decorations, wall art and furniture in the room to be non-gendered and inclusive with all groups on campus.
“We had seen rooms that had been intentionally set up for a certain way to promote gender,” Smith said. “We did not want that. There are many people who find themselves to be caregivers so we didn’t want the room any type of way.”
In addition to the space of the room, toys, books, nursing stations and other amenities, the ABC 123 Room also provides circulation kits for children and caregivers.
“We made sure to think about the barriers that people face,” Smith said. “So one thing we have also paired this space with is diaper kits and toy kits at the circulation desk, which is something we didn’t have before.” 
“Parents are able to check out kits at the circulation desk at the Knight Library that are age-appropriate for their kids,” Chan said. “We have diaper sizes and toys for different age cohorts that are going up to about two years.”
The diaper kits come with a diaper appropriate to age, baby wipes, hand sanitizer and some general supplies.
According to Smith, the circulation desk wanted to be inclusive of all ages of children because there are always circumstances of forgetting diapers or essentials that can interfere with a student’s studying time, forcing them to leave.
“We have age-appropriate developmental toys in the circulation kits that have instructions and details,” Smith said. “We were thinking of what toys we would want for ourselves and our children.”
According to Smith, one toy she and Chan are extremely excited about is a Tonies Music Box with different statues that play music they had intentionally picked.
 “We have some in different languages and different subjects but also mixed in with Daniel Tiger, which kids really like,” Smith said. “It’s not a toy that I would be able to afford for my kids but we thought it was amazing because you could come to the library and use it.”
According to Smith, she and Chan have a plan for additional toys they want to add to the circulation kits, including coloring kits.
“We are also in the process of getting a tablet for older kids whose parents don’t mind that they are on tablets,” Chan said. “We are excited to add more kits for a variety of ages as we go along.”
According to Smith, she is aware that 22% of UO students are parents  and 50% feel that they are not welcomed on campus, so it is her and the library’s mission to be the most welcoming place on campus.
“I’m excited to support our students,” Smith said. “Not only the students who are coming in here to use this space, but we’re also excited to make connections with these kids in the community, as well.”

Gallery • 2 Photos

Children from the grand opening of the ABC 123 Room used and read books in the room’s bookshelf. (Saboorian/Emerald)